Website forms and recording
Fig. 5. Confirmed records for the Noble False-widow Steatoda nobilis
the use of website forms that enable members of the public to submit records for selected species
definitely seems worthwhile. However the results indicate that it is not realistic to expect the
information to be county-based - at the very least one must expect wide national coverage and an
international response is not unusual. It is important therefore that the results feed into national
recording schemes as well as to our own County Recorders.
Misidentification will always be a potential problem. It is all too easy to forget how easily
misidentification can result, even for what might seem like straightforward and obvious species,
when people do not have a wildlife background or a wider specialist knowledge of where they may
go wrong. Many invertebrates and critical plant species require voucher specimens and microscopic
examination to confirm their identification, and this is not something that members of the public
are likely to be able to do. This means that careful choice of species will always be necessary,
unless voucher specimens are demanded. A clear explanation of key features should be provided
and any other similar species highlighted. Even then, an acceptance must be made that a specialist
will need to vet the results and that some records will have to be rejected.
Perhaps not surprisingly species that have been most successful seem to be ones that occur in
houses and gardens and adversely affect people's plants (such as the Lily Beetle), are large and
well known (such as the Stag Beetle), striking and never seen before (such as the Wasp Spider),
large but not noticed before (such as the Garden and Woodlouse Spiders) or perceived to be harmful
(such as spider bites from the Noble False-widow or the Woodlouse Spider).
Feedback is obviously useful to encourage website visitors realise that their records will be useful
and I have tried to do this with the Lily Beetle, periodically providing an updated map on the
website showing the results of peoples efforts. Results during late summer and autumn 2004 for the
Wasp Spider now warrant a similar exercise forthis species, and it is probably worthwhile providing
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 21 (2004)
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